Pages

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Mary Kay Ash and a Lesson in Karma

I listen to a lot of talk radio. We have a local station here, thanks to the Johnson family, that has some hilarious people on great shows. Some of them are even friends as a result. As a reformed musician, I also find music distracting because I really focus on it. If I'm working, I like just having voices as my background noise during the day.

So this means I hear all sorts of different shows. There's a gardening show I adore. There are real estate and money market shows, which I loathe. There are local news discussion shows which are great and really Austin-focused.

Now I know what you're thinking. How in the world can she like a car talk show? But I actually really do. I feel like the hosts are honest, they're pretty funny, and I've learned a lot about a lot of different vehicles. Keep in mind that I own the WORST SORT OF AUTOMOBILE IN THE WORLD - the most unreliable, fly-apart-at-the-seams-instantly-after-the-warranty-expires vehicle. So no matter WHAT those guys are talking about, it gives me hope for my automotive future!

But this weekend, they told the most interesting story about Mary Kay Ash and the pink Cadillacs.

It turns out that when Mary Kay Ash decided to launch her pink fleet in 1967, she actually liked the Lincoln she tried out better. So why didn't she go with Lincoln?

Well, my friends, what follows is the best lesson in Karma I've ever heard.

The Car Pro guy explains that when Mary Kay Ash asked the dealer about purchasing a pink Lincoln, that unfortunate man told her to go home and come back with her husband.

I'll wait a minute while you collect yourselves.

Still with me?

Needless to say, she was treated better by Cadillac.

I don't know what happened to this person, but I'm quite certain that that mistake followed him the rest of his days.

I had a similar experience with a leather couch. This was decades ago after we had bought our first house. We wanted a really nice living room set and so we went to the store that was actually advertised on my favorite radio station I listen to every day. The name of this store was the name of the owner - Theresa Mink. It was not cheap, but I was going to spend my Christmas bonus on a nice piece of furniture, and this store was THE leather furniture store in town.

We walked in, and were swooped down upon by a commissioned sales person. At first, I did not want to kill this man.

We looked around and then I had a few questions, so I asked him one.

He turned away from me and started talking to my husband.

Physically turned away from me.

Now, just as in the wild kingdom, I could see that my husband understood that terrible, terrible things were about to happen to this salesperson, and he started moving backwards slightly. His amygdala was probably screaming at him to run, but he did not. However, the salesman, who clearly had no amygdala, did not sense any danger.

I interrupted him, channeling my mother, and said "Excuse me" and asked my question again. Again, he turned his back on me and spoke to my husband, now pale, sweating and nearly unrecognizable.

However, I did not do what I wanted to do, which was to deliver a knee to his nether regions. Instead, I poked him on the arm and said "You just cost yourself a $2K sale (insert one of my favorite words here).

Now - this was SO long ago that people still wrote letters. Which I did. To Theresa Mink, the owner. Her response was the response of a person who would hire a man who would do that. Classless.

Now I'm no Mary Kay Ash, but karma is still a beast, and she is out of business.

In general, it's just better to be nice to people and not assume you know something about them. Let their stories surprise and delight you, and the world will be a little kinder to you. Perhaps, the world will give you a commission on 22,000 cars. That's how karma works, my friends.

In honor of this revelation today about Mary Kay, I thought I would bring you a little pink.

In my presentation at Convention, I talked about ways to make your sentiment stamps the star of the show. One thing I like to do is create backgrounds for them on one layer cards, and so I came up with a fun sponge dauber floral background, inspired by Donna Mikasa, an AMAZING artist, who made flowers like this with alcohol markers.

And I promised my sweet friend Linda Ostby that I would do a tutorial, so here's a video showing you this simple AWESOME technique!

I hope you try this! And I hope you try different colors - it's so fun.

And in the meantime, remember - the next person you meet may be your Mary Kay Ash! Be kind!

It's the late 80s, and my then-husband and I were in a car dealership, financing a new car. I did all the household bills, and had all the answers. He knew nothing. Mr Finance asks me what our house payment was. The Other looked and me and said, "What's our house payment?" I answered Mr Finance. Mr Finance asked The Other what our current car payment was. Again, The Other asked me, and I answered. Mr Finance then asked The Other, "Does your wife work?" I WAS SITTING RIGHT THERE! I said, "YES, I DO." The man never looked at me. Never. I wish to God I'd walked out.

I quite like the knee to the nether regions option, but you probably made the best decision at the time. Cretins like that seem to be fewer these days, but then I don't get out much. Love your card and thanks for the video.

I had to look up amygdala. I not only learned what it is (thank you for today's lesson) but did you know this - in humans, it is the most sexually-dimorphic brain structure, and shrinks by more than 30% in males upon castration. Perhaps THAT'S why the sofa and car guys were so clueless.

I had to look up amygdala. Did you know that in humans, it is the most sexually-dimorphic brain structure, and shrinks by more than 30% in males upon castration. Could this by why the car & sofa guys were so clueless??

Hope this doesn't post twice! Thank you so much for the video on this card. I have been trying to replicate it since seeing your fabulous presentation at convention...now I may be able to do a better job. LOVE the Karma story...so right on!! Good for you for not only walking out on that $#!+ but letting him know why. Doubt that he 'got it', but he and the store got what was deserved.

Every time you leave a comment, a new LOLcat is born. ALSO - don't panic if you don't see your comment right away - I moderate my comments to keep those spammers out, so your comment will show up in short order. Unless you're linking me to Russian brides or Nigerian princes.

Global Top 100 Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Hi. I'm Lydia. I'm the Community Manager at Splitcoast by day, an artist, a teacher and an animal lover in every other moment. I do participate in affiliate programs at Stampin' Up! and Blick Art Materials and others, and may receive small compensation when you purchase using my links, at no additional cost to you.

Get in touch!

Name

Email
*

Message
*

Search my Blog

Connect With Me!

GET MY BLOG POSTS BY EMAIL

Get Specials Via Email

Art Unto Others

All of my projects are posted for your instruction & enjoyment. You may recreate these projects to your heart's content and I'll be flattered. I'd love it if you give me credit. It would be cool if you didn't submit them for publication though or sell them and make a million dollars, because that's bad karma. Unless you split it with me. My photos and my words belong completely to me and can't be reused or republished, so you gotta make your own. That means you have an excuse to buy glitter. And unless noted, dearest government officials, I am not compensated in any way for the products I use or discuss.

Total Pageviews

Fascinating Disclaimer!

As an enthusiastic, loyal and committed Stampin' Up! demonstrator, it is my duty to tell you that I am responsible for the content of this, your favorite blog. My views, layouts, style, cats and humorous observations are in no way endorsed, sanctioned by or a product of your undisputed favorite stamp company, maker of the world's best stamping products - Stampin' Up! I participate in the Amazon affiliate program, personally, and as an team member at Splitcoast. If I use an Amazon affiliate link, either I or the volunteer moderators at Splitcoast get a small % - which doesn't change your price at Amazon. At Splitcoast we buy Christmas presents for our volunteers each year with these proceeds. :) Have you hugged a moderator today?